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Pregnancy and Parenting News and TrendsSun, 02 Aug 2015 20:26:52 +0000enhourly1http://wordpress.com/http://0.gravatar.com/blavatar/4dde9d472952351bba74a67738d3d502?s=96&d=http%3A%2F%2Fs2.wp.com%2Fi%2Fbuttonw-com.png » productshttp://blog.thebump.com
5 Stunning New Beauty Products for Moms and Moms-to-Be at Destination Maternity!http://blog.thebump.com/2014/02/28/5-stunning-new-beauty-products-from-moms-and-moms-to-be-at-destination-maternity/
http://blog.thebump.com/2014/02/28/5-stunning-new-beauty-products-from-moms-and-moms-to-be-at-destination-maternity/#commentsFri, 28 Feb 2014 17:31:02 +0000http://blog.thebump.com/?p=21104]]>What’s not to love about beauty products? (Hint: Nothing.) Which is why we when we scored the opportunity to check out the new beauty brands that were added to the roster at Destination Maternity, we were more than happy to test drive all the products (can you blame us?). We were primped, fluffed, buffed and shined into bliss, and now it’s our turn to dish on the goodies!

Here’s just a few of the products we’re pining for from Destination Maternity’s expanded Beauty Collection. Added bonus? They’re all available right now!:

Everyone’s pregnancy is different. I happened to have a pretty damn great pregnancy. I had minimal nausea, no puking, normal weight gain — I really don’t have any major complaints! But I’ve also had my terrible mood swings, bad gas, aches and pains in my back and legs (hello charlie horses!), and food aversions, but don’t we all have our ups and downs throughout 40 freaking weeks?

The next six items are basically what carried me through until now (thank goodness!):

1. Basq Fresh Resilient Body Oil (Eucalyptus Spa). This fresh scent made me swoon! My husband and I had a nightly ritual where he rubbed my belly and talked to our baby girl. It was a nice little massage, great bonding time, and definitely relaxed me after a long day. It was my secret weapon to a good night’s sleep. We would slather it on and I was asleep within 15 minutes! Plus, all those essential oils saved me from stretch marks. Yessss!

2. Belly Support. There are so many brands out there (BellaBand, Be Band, Belly Band), but long story short this little wardrobe extender really stretched (literally!) my wardrobe up until the end of my pregnancy. If there is one piece of maternity wear you should invest in — it’s one of these handy things!

3. Sparkling Water. I’ve never been a big pop drinker, but I cut out caffeinated drinks during my pregnancy (my choice!). So I needed something to switch up my plain ole water, because let’s be honest, that got really boring, really fast. I made a lot of fruit infused water (Aqua Fresca), but what really saved me was sparking water (San Pelligrino, La Croix). I loved the bubbles and variety of flavors and made my sipping a little more interesting. Yummy!

4. My Chiropractor and Yoga. So remember those aches and pains we spoke about? Well right around 25 weeks, I started to see a chiropractor. It was the best decision to help me get through the terrible ligament pain, lower back pain and my hip issues. I also kept up with yoga and Pilates moves to keep my core strong and flexibility up. I’d be a liar to say that I worked out avidly throughout my pregnancy, but I did try and do some activity daily whether it was stretching, yoga and a power walk.

5.Snoogle. For Mother’s Day, my Mom bought me a body pillow that provides comfort and support when and where it’s needed. The interior forms to your body supporting your back and tummy, allowing you to rest in many different positions. Sometimes I even caught my husband curling up with it!

6. My… Toys. Okay, while I’m sure most people wouldn’t admit this, I am an open book! My sex drive was a roller coaster throughout my pregnancy. During my first trimester I wanted nothing to do with sex; the one thing that got me into this “situation” was the one thing I wanted nothing to do with! But things practically changed overnight in my second trimester — and I couldn’t get enough. So, my battery operated boyfriend (aka Bob) was my lifesaver. Of course, my husband was around too, but sometimes you just want to be solo.

So, that’s my list and I’m sticking to it. These six items were my lifesavers during the last 39 1/2 weeks.

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Whoa! A New Home Pregnancy Test Tells You How Far Along You Arehttp://blog.thebump.com/2013/08/28/whoa-a-new-home-pregnancy-test-tells-you-how-far-along-you-are/
http://blog.thebump.com/2013/08/28/whoa-a-new-home-pregnancy-test-tells-you-how-far-along-you-are/#commentsWed, 28 Aug 2013 15:42:16 +0000http://blog.thebump.com/?p=18525]]>

The test contains two strips instead of the standard single strip, with both strips measuring human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), the hormone that women produce when they’re expecting. When a woman is pregnant, the hCG levels increase significantly and can be measured through a woman’s urine during the early weeks of pregnancy. (hCG levels tend to decline 11 weeks into pregnancy.) Much like the standard pregnancy tests available, the latest test from Clearbue measures hCG levels but now with the second hCG detection strip, the home test uses the hormone to estimate the length of the pregnancy based on time since evaluation. So, if you’re pregnant, the test will read “Pregnant” and then list 1-2, 2-3 or 3+: an indication of how many weeks into your pregnancy you are.

The test, launched in 2008, is already available in Europe and will be available in the United States at all major retailers beginning on September 1. In December of 2012, the FDA approved the kit for the market after reviewing results from Clearblue’s clinical trials, which included 2,000 women and 5,000 tested urine samples. The trials determined that hGC measurement was, in fact, effective and accurate for estimating how far along a woman’s pregnancy was. To back up the clinical results, Clearblue says the test is 99 percent accurate at detecting pregnancy from the day of a woman’s expected period. It’s also 93 percent accurate in estimating how far along she is.

Ryan Daly, the Marketing Director at Procter & Gamble, the company that makes the home pregnancy test, says, “Through our consumer research, we found consumers were really wanting more information at the beginning of pregnancy. In fact, 78 percent of women in our research study feel that knowing how far along you are at the beginning of pregnancy is very important.” Adding, “We’re excited to bring this to the US because there is nothing else like it. Consumers have been looking for more information and answers in the pregnancy test category and there hasn’t been any innovation since the digital pregnancy test was launched.”

While the new test is certainly groundbreaking, Clearblue affirms that it isn’t meant to be used as a substitute for those early doctor’s visits, sonograms and ultrasounds; However, the home-based test could be helpful way of reassuring women that they are pregnant until they’re able to get confirmation from their doctor. But for women who have irregular periods, the test could help pinpoint the timing of a pregnancy more accurately before a woman has the chance to get to her doctor.

When friends Dr. Lara Oboler and Marjorie Goldner decided they wanted to journey into motherhood, the duo did not want to waste any time prepping for baby. After one month turned to two and then quickly to four, they started considering alternative ways to get pregnant. As the women struggled to conceive, they gave birth to the idea of PregPrep.

Here’s the general gist of what the founders and team of doctors who’ve worked with PregPrep have say about their product: It’s a natural physician-formulated pre-pregnancy kit that promotes fertility.

PregPrep’s Make That Baby kit (MTB) is based on three key medical principles that help promote optimal reproductive health and conception: the thinning of cervical mucus, the elimination of free radicals and the proper nutrition to support ovulation, conception and the overall wellness of reproductive health. It comes with a two-month supply of three natural, doctor-formulated products that target a woman’s most fertile days and provide support to help optimize her chances of pregnancy.

So, what’s included in the kit?

FertilPrep, VitaMelts, and Essential Balance Oil. The FertilPrep is a physician-formulated capsule that targets a woman’s five most fertile days (which are the five days leading up to ovulation) to help optimize fertility. It works to thin out cervical mucus, helping to transport the sperm to the egg, and contains N Acetyl Cysteine (NAC), a naturally occurring substance found within our bodies. It also includes a variety of natural supplements like chaste berry extract and evening primrose oil, to help ensure hormone balance and support. The kit also comes with VitaMelts that focus on providing women with the essentials they need prior to pregnancy. PregPrep’s founders felt that that while traditional prenatal vitamins are used before, during and after pregnancy — they’re often too big and difficult to swallow. The PregPrep VitaMelt’s are designed with only the essentials that you’ll need before getting pregnant, so they’re smaller and easier to swallow. Added bonus? They’re made to melt on your tongue. They include Folic Acid, Vitamin D and B12.

Currently, the products have not been evaluated by the FDA. We haven’t tested the products out either, but it could help women who want to make a baby increase their odds. On their site, PregPrep women (and doctors) who’ve used and recommended the products absolutely rave about their experiences. You can buy the Make That Baby Kit for only $40 (with free shipping).

You’re pregnant, and while everyone else is enjoying the holiday festivities, you’re skipping the cocktails, eyeing the cheese platter with suspicion and worrying about salmonella in your (virgin) eggnog. So we think it fine to ask for some extravagant gifts this year. Add these to your wish list.

As a new dad, I discovered how difficult it is to find American-made items for my children. After extensive searching and testing I’ve discovered the safest, heirloom quality items for your child all made in the USA. These wonderful clothes, toys and furnishings are from the some of the best designers and artists.

Gary Osborne is the Founder and Creative Director of Oliver & Adelaide, which specializes in bringing its members new, bespoke seasonal packages of the most exquisite clothing, toys and furnishings to parents and their children. Soon after he and his partner had their two children, Gary became an art educator specializing in childhood development. Now, his children, Oliver & Adelaide, are his inspiration for giving other parents the gift of beautifying their baby’s world with the only the best. Previously, Gary spent over a decade as a fashion designer in New York City.

On Tuesday, October 23, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and ValcoBaby recalled 975 ValcoBaby Booster Seats. The recall comes after two reports of a child falling from the booster toddler seat after it disengaged from the stroller.

The recalled seats were sold at various juvenile product stores, websites and the firm’s website (valcobaby.com) nationwide from June 2011 through June 2012 for between $80 and $100.

The booster seat, available in single and twin, is designed to attach to Valco “Tri-Mode” and “Zee” strollers. The spring button mechanism, which secures the booster toddler seat to the baby stroller, has been found to disengage, allowing for the carried toddler to fall.

The following batch numbers are included in the recall:

3111
7819
7822
7831

The following model numbers are also included in the recall:

TOD1058
TOD9109
ZEE0649

Batch and model numbers can be found on a label attached to the product frame.

If you own this booster seat, stop using the product immediately and contact ValcoBaby for a free replacement attachment mechanism. Contact ValcoBaby at 800-610-7850 between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the their website at valcobaby.com.

Want to make sure you don’t have any recalled baby gear at home? Read more of the latest baby product recalls.

]]>http://blog.thebump.com/2012/10/23/recall-alert-valcobaby-booster-sea/feed/0http://i2.wp.com/xothebump.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/valco-baby-booster-seat.jpg?resize=214%2C148http://blog.thebump.com/2012/10/23/recall-alert-valcobaby-booster-sea/
Bumpie Tip of the Week: Pregnancy Survival Kithttp://blog.thebump.com/2012/07/11/bumpie-tip-of-the-week-pregnancy-survival-kit/
http://blog.thebump.com/2012/07/11/bumpie-tip-of-the-week-pregnancy-survival-kit/#commentsWed, 11 Jul 2012 15:20:22 +0000http://blog.thebump.com/?p=3220]]>So you got your BFP (congrats!) and you now have nine exciting, but long months ahead of you. For dealing with those more unpleasant pregnancy symptoms, Bumpies on our message boards swear by the items in this Pregnancy Survival Kit for making the nine months a little more comfortable.

Any must-have products we forgot to include? Share them in the comments!